Chicago – August 27, 2024
A federal judge in Texas, Judge J. Campbell Barker, recently halted a new Biden administration policy aimed at helping unauthorized immigrants married to American citizens. This temporary stop affects a program that could have helped about half a million immigrants currently living in the U.S. without legal papers. The program, called Keeping Families Together, was designed to help these immigrants get work permits and avoid deportation if they’ve been in the U.S. for at least ten years and are married to U.S. citizens. It also offered a way for them to become permanent residents and possibly U.S. citizens eventually.
However, 16 states led by Republicans challenged this policy in court. They argue that it improperly rewards those who have entered the country illegally, using what they believe is a misuse of the immigration parole system. This ruling is a significant early challenge to President Biden’s immigration efforts, particularly as the 2024 presidential election approaches, where immigration is a major issue.
